I have read your letter to Br. Ellefsen, in which you asked us both to examine what you wrote. I have done this, and by the grace of God, I will try to share my thoughts about it with you.

As I understand it, your interpretation of Eph. 4:11-15 is that in the church God has given some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, teachers, etc., till we all attain to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. You write: “Notice that it says ‘till.’” What I understand from your explanation is that after a certain period of time, the brothers will develop to the point where they have no need for apostles, prophets, teachers, where this “till” has been attained, and those who continue to have need for the servants whom God has placed in the church are just parasites (leeches) on that individual.

In verse 15 it says, “But that we, faithful to the truth in love, may grow up in all things to Him who is the head—Christ.” [Norw.] Who dares to say that they have been so faithful to the truth in every way that they have now grown up to the Head to such a degree that through the Head they can look out over the body of Christ and refer to those as parasites who still have need for the servants whom God Himself has placed in the church.

Verse 16 gives an explanation for this: “Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love, according to the effective working which is imparted to each individual member.” [Norw.]

Note that “joined” and “knit together” are present tense. Each person has their growth as the body and not as an independent, isolated individual. Everything functions according to the effective working that is imparted to each individual member. By this we see that the effective working that causes growth in the body can be imparted to a greater or lesser degree. So those who become the recipients of this effective working, which furthers their growth in the body, can hardly be called parasites.

I can well understand that it can feel very good to gain a so-called “independence,” because then a person avoids the restraints and chastening which this effective working of the members produces in the body; but I also understand that this independence is a hole in the wall through which people crawl in order to spare themselves from the judgments God brings within the church. God will give us grace to be “repairers of the breach” for such holes, so that this good feeling doesn’t last for long.

In the long term, it is most profitable for a person to be in that place where they are built together with the others for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. To physically separate oneself in order to be “independent” and make excuses never pays off. That is why God has placed some in the church to warn against this doctrine, which is nothing other than human reasoning—in someone who should have grown up to the Head.

The body grows its growth through the edifying of itself in love. There must be a clear distinction between the love that is in the body and the love that many claim to have, because the growth in the body is furthered through love. This so-called knowledge gives off a stench of arrogance. And when it is exposed as being sheer folly, the one who possesses it can easily act too hastily.

Therefore, be wise, and demonstrate how close you have come to the Head by the spirit of humility and meekness, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. This teaching about independence and parasites draws people away from the cross, away from fellowship with the brothers, and leads in the direction of despising those who provide both written and spoken instruction, and despising those who receive instruction. It is therefore not of God; it is of one father, the devil. Even the angel Michael did not dare to bring a reviling accusation against Satan, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Therefore, let us be on guard against referring to our brothers, who are in the same body, as parasites (leeches); because I am unable to see this as anything but a reviling accusation.

I want to warn you with this letter against the so-called teaching of independence. If you give it up, that will be good for you and for all of us; but if you work with it and spread such a teaching, I will take action immediately to prevent it from being spread any further.

Greet the friends.

Warm greetings from your brother,